More Victorians, including those in Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay, can now play a part in boosting fish populations across Victoria, with a new grant program to improve fish habitats in freshwater, marine and estuarine fisheries.
Outdoor Recreation Minister Steve Dimopoulos announced the Fish Habitat Improvement Fund, with $2.5 million in funding to help recreational fishers and organisations create better fish habitats.
Administered by the Victorian Fisheries Authority, the grants program includes two streams of funding for recreational fishing groups and large-scale projects.
Stream one will support recreational fishing groups to apply for grants of up to $50,000 to complete small-scale works such as planting native trees and shrubs, weed and erosion control, and fencing on public or private land.
These grants will remain open until the funding amount is allocated.
Stream two enables larger-scale project partnerships to restore, recover and rebuild fish populations with up to $200,000 available and co-investment from funding partners required. These grants will remain open until March 1, 2024.
Organisations eligible to apply for the grants include catchment management authorities, local, regional and statewide fishing bodies, councils, water authorities, traditional owner groups and land councils and community organisations.
“Funding projects to provide more habitat is yet another way we’re making Victoria’s fisheries even better and complements our record-breaking fish stocking program,” said Minister Dimopoulos
“Whether it’s woody snags in a northern river to provide homes for Murray cod, bankside vegetation to provide shelter for trout or shellfish reefs for snapper in the bay, the fund will make a wide range of projects possible.”
Details: vfa.vic.gov.au/fishhabitatfund
